South Africa-CAR qualifier moved to Cameroon

JOHANNESBURG — The South African Football Association says next month's World Cup qualifier against Central African Republic has been moved to Cameroon for safety reasons.

SAFA said Monday that the match will be played in Yaounde on June 9 and not in the Central African Republic capital Bangui, which is under the control of rebel fighters. It means the team won't have to travel to the city where 14 South African soldiers were killed in fighting in March, forcing South Africa's government to recall its troops.

Coach Gordon Igesund says he is happy with the venue change by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football as it is "still too tense to have a match in that country."

South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010 but hasn't qualified otherwise since 2002.